A teacher with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District for nearly fifty years, Walter Romansky, unsurprisingly, has an incredible passion for education and for the work of College Now. Mr. Romansky’s first contribution to College Now in 2001 honored Ralph Krogh, a principal at the former Wilson Junior High in Cleveland.

Recognizing Mr. Romansky’s tremendous commitment to education and the students of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Denise Bugansky, daughter of Mr. Romansky and a Cleveland teacher herself, spearheaded an effort from more than 60 donors to create the Walter Romansky Scholarship Fund at College Now.

The first Walter Romansky Scholarship was awarded to a 2019 graduate of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, who matriculated to Hiram College earlier this fall to study political science.

College Now congratulates Mr. Romansky on his incredible career, and is grateful to the entire Romansky family and all the donors who have made this renewable scholarship possible!

College Now works with thousands of area students every year on college and career planning and preparation. For our college students in particular, internships and summer job experiences are increasingly important in a competitive job market and are crucial components to developing social capital and soft skills. Investing in our students’ professional development and awareness of career opportunities pays dividends not only for our students, but for the health and vibrancy of our community. That’s why College Now hosts the annual MentorInCLE Connect event every January.

This year, MentorInCLE Connect will take place on January 9th at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel with the generous support of Delta Dental and Team NEO. The event comprises a luncheon, including a keynote address and an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding mentors, and a career fair with 50 area employers. “College Now is an important collaborator in our mission to advance economic success in Northeast Ohio,” said Bill Koehler, CEO, Team NEO. "MentorInCLE Connect gives students the opportunity to consider and celebrate their future career path, as well as make important connections. Team NEO, in partnership with Delta Dental, hopes to enhance the event by providing insights on in-demand jobs and the skills and training our workforce needs to fill them.” To further help students envision their paths from college to career success, Team NEO’s Vice President of Strategy and Research, Jacob Duritsky, will present findings in the groundbreaking Aligning Opportunities in Northeast Ohio report during the luncheon.

Many thanks to Delta Dental and Team NEO for making this crucial event a possibility in 2020! If your organization would like to attend the event (various packages are available), visit our website or contact Krissi Romanini at kromanini@collegenowgc.org or 216.635.0173. Registration is due by December 13th.

This year, College Now is honored to participate in the coordinated, city-wide #GivingTuesdayCLE campaign, Cleveland's local response to the global Giving Tuesday movement. This second annual celebration of giving kicked off on November 19th with the sale of limited-edition GOOD hats. By purchasing a hat here, proceeds will be donated to College Now. You can also make a donation and join us at the GOOD Hat Bash on December 3rd at the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern to celebrate this giving event.

We are thankful for all of our generous donors and supporters, both on Giving Tuesday and throughout the year.

You can also give your time on #GivingTuesday by signing up for the College Now Mentoring Program. Every year, College Now recruits over 1,000 mentors to pair with our incoming class of scholarship recipients. Taking part in the program is easy – all it takes is two emails per month and three meetings per year – but the impact is profound. Learn more about the Mentoring Program and sign up to be a mentor on our website.

Earlier this month, juniors and seniors from Brush High School, Ginn Academy, Glenville High School, John Marshall High School, and Washington Park High School visited Gannon University, located in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Students had an opportunity to learn about Gannon's programs in cyber security, forensic sciences, computer information systems, and more! As we near the end of college application season, College Now wants to wish all students, especially seniors, the best of luck in their post-secondary decisions!